Domestic appliance



July 20, 1 965 K. WALLEN 3,195,969

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 25, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 if I! 10 My ll INVEN TOR. Lawrence K [Ma/2a y 0, 1965 K. WALLEN 3,195,969

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 25, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 INVENTOR.

Lawrence A. [Ma/Zen H16 ATTORNEY July 20, 1965 K. WALLEN 3,195,969

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 23, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 6 INVENTOR.

3/ law/rem? K [dc/1e)? H16 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,195,969 DOMESTIQ APPLIANCE Lawrence K. Wallen, Royal Oak, Mich, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 310,628 11 Claims. ((1 SILL-269) This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to diswashing apparatus. One problem with dishwashing apparatus and the like has been that drawers, racks or the like located within the outer cabinet of the apparatus for supporting articles to be cleaned are directed into the surrounding kitchen work space for loading or unloading. In many cases, the kitchen work space is of limited dimensions and, accordingly, the outwardly directed baskets or the like tend to interfere with the user of the kitchen.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to improve a dishwasher cabinet assembly by the provision of means for locating baskets in front and rear portions of a washing chamber Within the cabinet with the baskets being operatively associated by actuating means for moving one of the baskets exteriorly of the cabinet without taking up any appreciable adjacent kitchen work space while conjointly moving the other of the baskets to an accessible loading and unloading position adjacent an access opening in the cabinet.

A further object of the present invention is to improve dishwashing apparatus by the provision of a cabinet assembly having a door closing a top front Opening in the cabinet with the door being operatively associated with an improved linkage arrangement for conjointly moving one of a plurality of baskets from the dishwashing compartment of the apparatus exteriorly thereof upon opening of the door without interfering with work space adjacent the dishwasher while moving another of the baskets adjacent the top front opening.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of the dishwasher of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical section showing the actuating members of FIGURE 2 in one of their partially open positions; and

FIGURE 4 is a view in vertical section showing the actuating members of FIGURE 2 in their fully open position.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 2 show a dishwasher cabinet having a top front opening 12 therein closed by a door 14 having a first portion 16 closing the front portion of opening 12 and a top portion 18 hingedly connected by a pin 20 to the upper end of side walls 22, 23 of the cabinet 10 for closing the top portion of the opening 12 when the door 14 is in its closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 1. When in the closed position, the top portion 18 of the door 14 forms an extension of a top surface 24 of the cabinet 10. A continuous, resilient sealing strip 26 is supported on the cabinet 10 around the opening 12 therein to sealingly engage the door 14 when it is in its closed position for preventing fluid leakage exteriorly of the cabinet 10 during the dishwashing operation. The cabinet 10 includes an interiorly located wall 28 dividing it into an upper washing compartment 30 and a lower machinery compartment 32. A downwardly depending bulged porice tion 33 in wall 28 forms a sump space 34 that communicates through a strainer 35 located interiorly thereof to a drain outlet 36 and conduit 38 to the inlet of a pump 49 driven by suitable means, for example, an electric motor 42. The pump 49 has an outlet therefrom communicating with a two-way solenoid actuated valve 44 for selectively directing fluid discharged from the pump through a conduit 46 to a drain located exteriorly of the dishwashing cabinet 10 and through a conduit 48 to a fluid distribution system located interiorly of the washing compartment space 30, representatively shown as including a plurality of horizontally disposed spray tubes 56, 52, 54 located Within the washing compartment 30 above the sump space 34 therein.

The dishwasher further includes a conventional inlet water supply (not shown) for supplying a predetermined amount of water to carry out a desired dishwashing operation under the control of a suitable timer control mechanism 56 representatively illustrated as being located on the front wall 58 of the cabinet 10 below the front opening 12 therein. The timer mechanism 56 is of the type that progresses through a predetermined program to sequentially energize the solenoid valve 44, and electric motor 42 and the like for carrying out a predetermined desired dishwashing operation, for example, an operation of the type set forth in the US. Patent 3,064,661 issued November 20, 1962 to Jacobs, including a wash, a rinse and a drying cycle in the controlling sequence.

In accordance with certain of the principles of the present invention, the door 14 serves as a manual actuator for moving a front basket 60 and a rear basket 62 located interiorly of the washing compartment space 30 to points exteriorly thereof to facilitate loading and unloading of articles to be cleaned. More particularly, a bracket 64 is located on each side of the front portion 16 of door 14 (only one of the brackets being shown in the drawings) directed interiorly of the washing cornpartment 39 when the door is closed. The inner end of each of the brackets has a roller 66 supported thereon that rides in an arcuate track 68 secured to one side of the front basket 69 for moving the basket 60 exteriorly of the cabinet 12 in an upward direction to a position out of the way of the rearward support basket 62 as the door 14 is vertically pivoted about the hinge pin 20. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, basket 62 is supported within compartment 30 by rollers 67 secured thereon that ride in horizontal tracks 69 formed on either side of wall 28.

The invention further includes like crank and track arrangements supported interiorly of the cabinet 12 on each of the side walls 22, 23 thereof with the crank and track arrangements basically comprising a bellcrank member '70, a track and bellcrank stop element 72 and a counterbalance mechanism 74. Each bellcrank member '70 has a fixed center pivot point 76 pivotally supported on a pin 73 secured on an adjacent side wall of the cabinet 12 and further includes a forward arm portion 80 pivoted to one of the sides of the forwardly supported basket 60 by a pivot pin 82. The rear arm 84 of each bellcrank element 70 has a roller element 86 supported thereon that slides in a track element 88 mounted on one of the sides of the rearwardly supported basket 62 including a first arcuate portion 90 and a second straight run portion 92 located below the arcuate portion 90. Each track and bellcrank stop element 72 includes an arcuately-shaped element 94 having a channel-shaped cross section that is fixedly secured to the adjacent side wall of cabinet 12 by suitable means, for example, rivets 96 to receive a roller 97 secured on each of the sides of basket 69 at the bottom, rear thereof.

Each counterbalance mechanism or assembly 74 includes a first cylindrical portion 98 having one end thereof pivotally secured by means of a pin to an adjacent side wall of cabinet 1t and the opposite end thereof tele scopically received within an elongated tubular element l tll having an upper end portion thereof pivotally secured by means of a pin 102 to a bracket 104 on the top portion 18 of door 14. Within the cylindrical element.

98'and tubular element 100, an elongated spring element 106 is located for biasing elements 98, 100 apart to thereby assist in opening and closing door 14-.

64 moves to the upper end ofthe arcuate track 68. Upon further opening movement of door 14, the roller 66 serves as a support point for basket 60 with the basket 64) described arrangement enables a predetermined washing compartment volume or the like to be substantially completely utilized for supporting articles to be cleaned, stored,gor the like While retaining ease 'of loading and unloading. p J

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form,'-it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is asfollows:

. 1; In a dishwashing apparatus, the combination of, means forminga washing compartment having a front top opening therein, means for closing the front top opening'in said washing compartment, first movable support means located rearwardly in saidwashing compartment, second movable support meanslocated forwardly of said compartment, means on said closure means for carrying being retained thereon by the basket gravity." During y I the'initial opening movement, the track and bellcrank stop elements 72 guide rollers 97 on the front basket 60sf or stabilizing the basket in its upward movement.

Following the .initial opening of. the door basket 60 will pivot on roller-66 to remain upright during the up moved out of the track 94- of the bellcrank stop element 72, the pivots defined by roller 66, pin 82 and pin 78 are no longer substantially aligned with one another and, ac-

cor-dingly, the spaced offset disposition of the pivots provides a highly 'stable supportof the basket 69 ther opening of doorld. 1

Concurrently with initial opening movement of door upon fur- 14, each bellcrank element 7%) will be rotated about'pin 78 to cause the roller 86 on the end of rear, arm 84'to' describe an are like that of each arcuate track 9% on the' rearward support basket 62. This effectively constitutes a lost motion between the forward supportvbasket 601and the rearward support baskett 62 so there will be no forward movementof the rearwardly supported basket 62 until the front basket 6%) has been pivoted forwardly and said second movables-upportmeans exteriorly'of said washing compartment through the front top opening therein upon opening of said closure means, first means for guidingly, supporting said second movable support means during a first predetermined vertical movement thereof, second means for guidingly supporting said second movable support means during asecond predetermined vertical movement thereof, said second means; including means operable once said second movable support means reaches a predetermined vertical'position for moving said first movable support means forwardly of said'washing com- 7 partment to be accessible through the fronttop opening therein.

2. A dishwasher cabinet arrangement comprising an outer housing having a top front opening therein, a door ment, means for operatively connecting said bracket to. said second movable support means for carrying said second movable support means exteriorly of said washing compartment upon pivotal'movement of-said door about .said hinge means, means for guidingly supporting said up to a position at which forward displacement'of basket 7 62 will not interfere with the front basket 60.

Once the forward basket 60 has cleared the rearwardly 7 supported basket 62, as best illustrated in FIGURE 3,

further vertical pivotal movement of door 14- will rotate the bellcrank element 74) in a direction to cause the rearward arm 84 thereof to swing downwardly and toward the front opening in the cabinet to'eng'age the straight portion '92 of track 88 to shift the rearward support basket v62; into the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 during which time the basket 6%} continues to pivot about the roller 66 on bracket 64 and" move into a position at the top rear of the cabinet 10.

During the opening movement, the counterbalance assembly 74 acts to impose anupward resultant force on door 14 to help overcome the inertia of the baskets 'operasecond movable support means against tipping during upward movement thereof exteriorly of said washing compartment, said guide means includingmeansoperatively associated with said first. movable support means for-moving itfforwardlywithin said washing compartment to a point accessible through said top front opening. 7 3. In the combination of claim '2, said guide means including a bellcrank member having a fixed center pivot point, a forward. arm and'a rearward arm, a fixed member,

. means for pivotally supporting said fixed center pivot exterior cabinet dimensions and, accordingly, does not interfere with adjacent kitchenwork space. This approach to saving space is equally applicable in domestic appliances otherthan dishwashers,- for example,--' in freezers, ranges or the like. Furthermore, the abovepoint on said fixed member, means for pivotally connectingsaid'forward arm to said second movable support means at a point offset from the interconnection between said second movable support means and. said bracket for stabilizing said second movable support means against tipping during movement thereof exteriorly of said washing compartment, and means for operatively associating said rearward'arm of said bellcrank member with said first movable support means including lost motion means for preventing forward movement of said first movable support means until said "second. movable .support-means attains a predetermined vertical position,

"and further including means for producing forward movement of said-first movable support means upon movement of said second movable support means abovesaid including a roller element supported on said second movable support means and a track element for guidingly directing said roller means through said first predetermined vertical movement.

5. In the combination of claim 1, counterbalance means for biasing said closure means into its open position being operable to damp closing movement of said closure means.

6. In the combination of claim 5, said counterbalance means including a pair of tubular telescoping elements, a spring supported interiorly of said telescoping elements for biasing said telescoping elements apart, means for pivotally connecting one of said telescoping elements to said compartment forming means, means for connecting the other of said telescoping elements to said closure means, said spring cooperating with said pivotally supported elements for damping closing movement of said closure means.

7. In the combination of claim 2, a pair of tubular telescoping elements, a spring supported interiorly of said telescoping elements for biasing said telescoping elements apart, means for pivotally connecting one of said telescoping elements to said outer housing, means for connecting the other of said telescoping elements to said door, said spring cooperating with said pivotally supported elements for preventing impacting of said door against said outer housing during closing movement thereof.

8. In a domestic appliance, the combination of, means forming a compartment having an access opening thereto, means for closing the access opening into said compartment, first movable support means located rearwardly of said compartment, second movable support means located forwardly of said compartment, actuator means on said closure means for carrying said second movable support means exteriorly of said compartment upon opening movement of said closure means, means for guidingly supporting said movable support means against tipping movement during movement thereof exteriorly of said compartment, said guide means including a bellcrank member having a fixed center pivoting point, a forward arm and a rearward arm, a fixed member, means for pivotally supporting said fixed center pivot point on said fixed member, means for pivotally connecting said forward arm to said second movable support means at a point offset from the interconnection between said second movable support means and said actuator means for producing stabilization against tipping, and means for operatively associating said bellcrank member with said first movable support means including lost motion means for preventing forward movement of said first movable support means until said second movable support means attains a predetermined vertical position and means for producing forward movement of said first movable support means upon movement of said second movable support means above said predetermined vertical position.

9. In a domestic appliance, the combination of, means forming a compartment having an opening thereto, means for closing the compartment opening, first movable support means located rearwardly of said compartment, second movable support means located forwardly of said compartment, means on said closure means for carrying said second movable support means exteriorly of said compartment through the access opening thereto upon opening movement of said closure means, first means for guidingly supporting said second movable support means during a first predetermined vertical movement thereof, second means for guidingly supporting said second movable support means during 'a second predetermined vertical movement thereof, said .second means including means operable once said second movable means reaches a predetermined vertical position for moving said first movable support means forwardly of said compartment to be accessible through the access opening thereto.

10. A domestic appliance arrangement comprising an outer housing having a top front opening therein, a door for closing said opening including a first portion forming a part of the top of said housing and a second portion forming a part of the front of said housing, means for hingedly connecting said first portion to said outer housing at the top thereof, means forming a compartment within said cabinet, first movable support means located rearwardly of said compartment, second movable support means located forwardly of said compartment, a bracket on said second door portion directed interiorly of said compartment, means for operatively connecting said bracket to said second movable support means for carrying said second movable support means exteriorly of said compartment upon pivotal movement of said door about said hinge means, means for guidingly supporting said second movable support means against tipping during upward movement thereof exteriorly of said compartment, said guide means including means operatively associated with said first movable support means for moving it forwardly within said compartment to a point accessible through said top front opening.

11. In the combination of claim 1%, said guide means including a bellcrank member having a fixed center pivot point, a forward arm and a rearward arm, a fixed member, means for pivotally supporting said fixed center pivot point on said fixed member, means for pivotally connecting said forward arm to said second movable support means at a point offset from the interconnection between said second movable support means and said bracket for stabilizing said second movable support means against tipping during movement thereof exteriorly of said compartment, and means for operatively associating said rearward arm of said bellcrank member with said first movable support means including lost motion means for preventing forward movement of said first movable support means until said second movable support means attains a predetermined vertical position, and further including means for producing forward movement of said first movable support means upon movement of said second movable support means above said predetermined vertical position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,920,171 8/33 Gerstner 312-276 X 2,569,209 9/51 Welk 312-274 X 2,987,355 6/61 Sandefur 312-276 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

9. IN A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE, THE COMBINATION OF, MEANS FORMING A COMPARTMENT HAVING AN OPENING THERETO, MEANS FOR CLOSING THE COMPARTMENT OPENING, FIRST MOVABLE SUPPORT MEANS LOCATED REARWARDLY OF SAID COMPARTMENT, SECOND MOVABLE SUPPORT MEANS LOCATED FORWARDLY OF SAID COMPARTMENT, MEANS ON SAID CLOSURE MEANS FOR CARRYING SAID SECOND MOVABLE SUPPORT MEANS EXTERIORLY OF SAID COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE ACCESS OPENING THERETO UPON OPENING MOVEMENT OF SAID CLOSURE MEANS, FIRST MEANS FOR GUIDINGLY SUPPORTING SAID SECOND MOVABLE SUPPORT MEANS DURING A FIRST PREDETERMINED VERTICAL MOVEMENT THEREOF, SECOND MEANS FOR GUIDINGLY SUPPORTING SAID SECOND MOVABLE SUPPORT MEANS DURING A SECOND PREDETERMINED VERTICAL MOVEMENT THEREOF, SAID SECOND MEANS INCLUDING MEANS OPERABLE ONCE SAID SECOND MOVABLE MEANS REACHES A PREDETERMINED VERTICAL POSITION FOR MOVING SAID FIRST MOVABLE SUPPORT MEANS FORWARDLY OF SAID COMPARTMENT TO BE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE ACCESS OPENING THERETO. 